Jung Chang tells the story of her family in an impressively candid and honest voice, illustrating vividly the lives of not only herself, but also of her forebears, family members, and friends. Even in her criticism of the countless inhumane events that transpired, she never lost sight of her characters' humanity, unfailingly balancing the harshness and brutality with small joys and found beauty. This book has been a history lesson and an emotional journey rolled into one, and I found it to be an eye opener in helping me contextualize and better understand the culture and beliefs of China as it is today. Since this is also an account of how the author finally became disillusioned by the regime and the Party (and with much good reason!), I am curious to read other memoirs that may have interpreted or experienced these events differently.